Heroes Must Not See Their Hair Turn White

While the higher-ups of Marine Headquarters gathered to discuss Long Yi, somewhere in the New World, aboard a hound warship.

"As expected of my disciple."

Karp murmured to himself. After carefully reading every word of the newspaper's report on Long Yi, he gently lifted his teacup and blew at the tea stems floating on its surface.

"He must have suffered quite a bit."

As the hot tea went down his throat, the usually cheerful old man fell into a rare silence.

After pondering for a long while, Karp finally moved. He picked up the Den Den Mushi before him and called an old friend he had not seen in a long time.

After a burst of "buru buru" ringing, a voice came through from the other end.

"Karp, what does an old bastard like you want from me? I'm busy. I don't have time to chat with you!"

Before Karp could speak, the person on the other end made his impatience abundantly clear, showing no respect whatsoever for the so-called Hero of the Marines.

Karp burst into laughter. Unbothered by the other man's attitude, he casually grabbed a senbei from the snack plate, crunched on it, and spoke into the Den Den Mushi.

"Zephyr, you're as spirited as ever. In that case, I'm relieved."

As soon as Karp finished speaking, a cold snort came from the other end, the impatience in it growing even more pronounced.

"I don't want to hear your nonsense. If you have nothing to say, I'm hanging up."

Zephyr's ultimatum finally wiped the joking mood from Karp's face. He knew that old man's temperament well. Though Zephyr, once known as "Black Arm," had retired from the front lines and no longer fought pirates, his fiery temper had never changed.

"All right, all right. I just want to ask you for a favor."

Although he was asking for help, Karp did not sound remotely like someone requesting a favor.

Sure enough, when Zephyr heard Karp's utterly insincere request, a vein throbbed on his forehead. Just as he suppressed the urge to curse and instinctively prepared to hang up, Karp's next words stopped him.

"Hey, have you heard of Long Yi?"

At the mention of that name, Zephyr's heart stirred. He answered Karp with certainty.

"Of course I have. That brat has become quite famous within the Marines lately. Heh heh, a thirteen-year-old Marine Headquarters ensign—he's a good prospect. Once he returns to Headquarters, I'll take him as my disciple."

Though Zephyr no longer fought pirates, he remained devoted to training fresh Marine blood. There was no way he would overlook a rising Marine prodigy like Long Yi.

"HAHAHAHA!"

Hearing Zephyr's words, Karp exploded into unprecedented laughter, his pride written all over his face.

The laughter made the veins on Zephyr's forehead twitch furiously. For some reason, a terrible premonition rose within him.

"Long Yi is already my disciple, Zephyr. You're too late!"

Picking his nose, Karp wished he could crawl through the Den Den Mushi and boast directly in Zephyr's face.

But considering that he still needed something from that old bastard, Karp wisely reined in his pride. Yet the faint, barely concealed snickering of the cheerful old man only made Zephyr burn with anger.

"What a waste! What a terrible waste! Karp, you don't deserve it! You don't deserve to be that child's teacher!"

Hearing that the talent he had taken a liking to had been snatched away by a reckless brute, Zephyr roared into the Den Den Mushi. In the entire Marine force, there was no one more suited than him to train the younger generation.

"Heh heh, say whatever you want. It won't change the fact that I'm his teacher."

After flaunting it one last time, Karp's tone turned serious as he continued speaking to the furious, speechless Zephyr.

"Do me a favor. Go to the North Blue and bring that kid back."

Zephyr fell silent on the other end of the Den Den Mushi, not answering immediately.

"You know I can't get away right now. The New World isn't a place you can just come and go as you please. Heh heh, who could have imagined that a thirteen-year-old kid would leave a Marine base and, just half a year later, accomplish something so incredible? An entire pirate fleet, along with pirate captains whose bounties exceeded thirty million..."

Hearing Karp's words, Zephyr nodded deeply, unable to stop himself from saying,

"Yeah. I didn't join the Marines until I was fourteen, while he became a Marine Headquarters ensign at thirteen. If that child keeps growing, he'll definitely surpass both of us and become the next Hero of the Marines."

At the words "Hero of the Marines," an indescribable emotion flashed through Karp's eyes. He laughed and replied to Zephyr.

"Wouldn't that be wonderful? There's nothing better than having my disciple inherit the title of 'hero.'"

Since ancient times, beauties lamented their fading youth; heroes must not see their hair turn white.

Though Karp remained strong and worthy of the title "Iron Fist," he had to admit that he was old. The times were changing, and the Marines needed a new hero.

"Hmph! Stop putting on airs. If the title of 'hero' could simply be passed around, the Marines would have become a joke long ago. I'll go to the North Blue, but not for the sake of an old bastard like you."

In the end, Zephyr accepted Karp's request and agreed to go to the North Blue to bring Long Yi back to Marine Headquarters.

"I know, I know. You old bastard just want to poach him along the way and steal my disciple. Fine, go ahead and try."

Whether Zephyr could see it or not, Karp magnanimously waved a hand, as if telling him to do whatever he pleased.

Zephyr did not respond. He decisively hung up the Den Den Mushi.

After cutting off communications with Karp, Zephyr's gaze fell upon a slightly yellowed old photograph on his desk.

There were four young people in the photograph. A beautiful young woman with a single ponytail carried a rifle on her back. A young man with an afro looked arrogant, his brows sharply raised. Another young man, a scar on his face and a smile at the corner of his lips, was brimming with youthful vigor. The purple-haired young man stood with his arms crossed, his gaze firm.

They were Tsuru, Sengoku, Karp, and himself.

"A hero, huh..."

Zephyr smiled softly, his voice filled with endless wistfulness.

"All information regarding Long Yi was personally ordered by me to be sent to the North Blue branch. The articles were published under my direction, and I personally orchestrated all the public opinion."

The meeting in the conference room continued.

With an unprecedentedly serious expression, Sengoku spoke to Granny Tsuru and the three admirals.

"The Marines need to establish a standard! A young standard, different from old-timers like us!"

At Sengoku's words, Akainu frowned deeply, his face full of defiance as he instinctively retorted,

"The Marines still have admirals."

Though Kizaru and Aokiji said nothing, anyone could see that neither of them looked pleased. In their eyes, Sengoku's proposal was questioning the combat strength of the admirals.

"But the Marines also have the Shichibukai."

Sengoku adjusted his glasses, his expression unchanged.

"Hmph!"

Akainu snorted angrily. His Haki suddenly surged forth like a volcano on the verge of eruption. He clenched his fists tightly, but said nothing further in rebuttal.

The existence of the Shichibukai system was a disgrace to the Marines, who prided themselves on upholding justice.

"Mr. Sengoku, you don't think this child alone can surpass all the Shichibukai, do you?"

Kizaru's tone was strange as he helplessly spread his hands.

The Shichibukai system had been established to balance the Four Emperors of the New World, so naturally, none of its members were weak. He did not believe pushing a thirteen-year-old brat into the spotlight could have such a tremendous effect.

"Half a year ago, I also would not have believed that a brat could wipe out an entire pirate fleet. Yet he did it, in only half a year."

Adjusting the round-rimmed glasses on his nose, Sengoku spoke with hidden meaning. Staring at Akainu and the others, he asked them word by word,

"Sakazuki, Kuzan, Borsalino, what were you doing when you were thirteen?"

The three admirals were left speechless.

"I agree."

At that moment, Granny Tsuru, the Chief Staff Officer who had remained silent for a long time, suddenly stated her position and expressed her agreement with Sengoku's proposal.

"Whatever. Mr. Karp's disciple should be qualified to stand at the forefront of the new generation of Marines, so I'll support it."

Aokiji yawned. Always lazy, he did not care much about Sengoku's plan. For him, following the justice in his heart was enough.

"Heh heh, I abstain."

Kizaru gave a sly smile, slightly raising both hands as he voluntarily gave up his vote.

"I object!"

Akainu's expression was cold and stern. Even knowing that his opposing vote would not change the final outcome, the pride of a Marine admiral prevented him from agreeing with Sengoku's approach.

He, Akainu, did not need a brat under fifteen to shoulder justice for him!

On that day, a plan began to unfold in silence.

Many years later, whenever Sengoku recalled that day, he could not help but feel proud. Pushing that boy to the crest of the era had been the most correct decision of his life.